[ Team LiB ] 2.4 Instances A module provides a template from which you can create actual objects. When a module is invoked, Verilog creates a unique object from the template. Each object has its own name, variables, parameters, and I/O interface. The process of creating objects from a module template is called instantiation, and the objects are called instances. In Example 2-1, the top-level block creates four instances from the T-flipflop (T_FF) template. Each T_FF instantiates a D_FF and an inverter gate. Each instance must be given a unique name. Note that // is used to denote single-line comments. Example 2-1 Module Instantiation // Define the top-level module called ripple carry // counter. It instantiates 4 T-flipflops. Interconnections are // shown in Section 2.2, 4-bit Ripple Carry Counter. module ripple_carry_counter(q, clk, reset); output [3:0] q; //I/O signals and vector declarations //will be explained later. input clk, reset; //I/O signals will be explained later. //Four instances of the module T_FF are created. Each has a unique //name.Each instance is passed a set of signals. Notice, that //each instance is a copy of the module T_FF. T_FF tff0(q[0],clk, reset); T_FF tff1(q[1],q[0], reset); T_FF tff2(q[2],q[1], reset); T_FF tff3(q[3],q[2], reset); endmodule // Define the module T_FF. It instantiates a D-flipflop. We assumed // that module D-flipflop is defined elsewhere in the design. Refer // to Figure 2-4 for interconnections. module T_FF(q, clk, reset); //Declarations to be explained later output q; input clk, reset; wire d; D_FF dff0(q, d, clk, reset); // Instantiate D_FF. Call it dff0. not n1(d, q); // not gate is a Verilog primitive. Explained later. endmodule In Verilog, it is illegal to nest modules. One module definition cannot contain another module definition within the module and endmodule statements. Instead, a module definition can incorporate copies of other modules by instantiating them. It is important not to confuse module definitions and instances of a module. Module definitions simply specify how the module will work, its internals, and its interface. Modules must be instantiated for use in the design. Example 2-2 shows an illegal module nesting where the module T_FF is defined inside the module definition of the ripple carry counter. Example 2-2 Illegal Module Nesting // Define the top-level module called ripple carry counter. // It is illegal to define the module T_FF inside this module. module ripple_carry_counter(q, clk, reset); output [3:0] q; input clk, reset; module T_FF(q, clock, reset);// ILLEGAL MODULE NESTING . <module T_FF internals> . endmodule // END OF ILLEGAL MODULE NESTING endmodule [ Team LiB ] [ Team LiB ] 2.5 Components of a Simulation Once a design block is completed, it must be tested. The functionality of the design block can be tested by applying stimulus and checking results. We call such a block the stimulus block. It is good practice to keep the stimulus and design blocks separate. The stimulus block can be written in Verilog. A separate language is not required to describe stimulus. The stimulus block is also commonly called a test bench. Different test benches can be used to thoroughly test the design block. Two styles of stimulus application are possible. In the first style, the stimulus block instantiates the design block and directly drives the signals in the design block. In Figure 2-6, the stimulus block becomes the top-level block. It manipulates signals clk and reset, and it checks and displays output signal q. Figure 2-6. Stimulus Block Instantiates Design Block The second style of applying stimulus is to instantiate both the stimulus and design blocks in a top-level dummy module. The stimulus block interacts with the design block only through the interface. This style of applying stimulus is shown in Figure 2-7 . The stimulus module drives the signals d_clk and d_reset, which are connected to the signals clk and reset in the design block. It also checks and displays signal c_q, which is connected to the signal q in the design block. The function of top-level block is simply to instantiate the design and stimulus blocks. Figure 2-7. Stimulus and Design Blocks Instantiated in a Dummy Top-Level Module Either stimulus style can be used effectively. [ Team LiB ] [ Team LiB ] 2.6 Example To illustrate the concepts discussed in the previous sections, let us build the complete simulation of a ripple carry counter. We will define the design block and the stimulus block. We will apply stimulus to the design block and monitor the outputs. As we develop the Verilog models, you do not need to understand the exact syntax of each construct at this stage. At this point, you should simply try to understand the design process. We discuss the syntax in much greater detail in the later chapters. 2.6.1 Design Block We use a top-down design methodology. First, we write the Verilog description of the top-level design block (Example 2-3 ), which is the ripple carry counter (see Section 2.2, 4-bit Ripple Carry Counter). Example 2-3 Ripple Carry Counter Top Block module ripple_carry_counter(q, clk, reset); output [3:0] q; input clk, reset; //4 instances of the module T_FF are created. T_FF tff0(q[0],clk, reset); T_FF tff1(q[1],q[0], reset); T_FF tff2(q[2],q[1], reset); T_FF tff3(q[3],q[2], reset); endmodule In the above module, four instances of the module T_FF (T-flipflop) are used. Therefore, we must now define (Example 2-4 ) the internals of the module T_FF, which was shown in Figure 2-4 . Example 2-4 Flipflop T_FF module T_FF(q, clk, reset); output q; input clk, reset; wire d; D_FF dff0(q, d, clk, reset); not n1(d, q); // not is a Verilog-provided primitive. case sensitive endmodule Since T_FF instantiates D_FF, we must now define (Example 2-5 ) the internals of module D_FF. We assume asynchronous reset for the D_FFF. Example 2-5 Flipflop D_F // module D_FF with synchronous reset module D_FF(q, d, clk, reset); output q; input d, clk, reset; reg q; // Lots of new constructs. Ignore the functionality of the // constructs. // Concentrate on how the design block is built in a top-down fashion. always @(posedge reset or negedge clk) if (reset) q <= 1'b0; else q <= d; endmodule All modules have been defined down to the lowest-level leaf cells in the design methodology. The design block is now complete. 2.6.2 Stimulus Block We must now write the stimulus block to check if the ripple carry counter design is functioning correctly. In this case, we must control the signals clk and reset so that the regular function of the ripple carry counter and the asynchronous reset mechanism are both tested. We use the waveforms shown in Figure 2-8 to test the design. Waveforms for clk, reset, and 4-bit output q are shown. The cycle time for clk is 10 units; the reset signal stays up from time 0 to 15 and then goes up again from time 195 to 205. Output q counts from 0 to 15. Figure 2-8. Stimulus and Output Waveforms We are now ready to write the stimulus block (see Example 2-6 ) that will create the above waveforms. We will use the stimulus style shown in Figure 2-6 . Do not worry about the Verilog syntax at this point. Simply concentrate on how the design block is instantiated in the stimulus block. Example 2-6 Stimulus Block module stimulus; reg clk; reg reset; wire[3:0] q; // instantiate the design block ripple_carry_counter r1(q, clk, reset); // Control the clk signal that drives the design block. Cycle time = 10 initial clk = 1'b0; //set clk to 0 always #5 clk = ~clk; //toggle clk every 5 time units // Control the reset signal that drives the design block // reset is asserted from 0 to 20 and from 200 to 220. initial begin reset = 1'b1; #15 reset = 1'b0; #180 reset = 1'b1; #10 reset = 1'b0; #20 $finish; //terminate the simulation end // Monitor the outputs initial $monitor($time, " Output q = %d", q); endmodule Once the stimulus block is completed, we are ready to run the simulation and verify the functional correctness of the design block. The output obtained when stimulus and design blocks are simulated is shown in Example 2-7 . Example 2-7 Output of the Simulation 0 Output q = 0 20 Output q = 1 30 Output q = 2 40 Output q = 3 50 Output q = 4 60 Output q = 5 70 Output q = 6 80 Output q = 7 90 Output q = 8 100 Output q = 9 110 Output q = 10 120 Output q = 11 130 Output q = 12 140 Output q = 13 150 Output q = 14 160 Output q = 15 170 Output q = 0 180 Output q = 1 190 Output q = 2 195 Output q = 0 210 Output q = 1 220 Output q = 2 [ Team LiB ] . asserted from 0 to 20 and from 20 0 to 22 0. initial begin reset = 1'b1; #15 reset = 1'b0; #180 reset = 1'b1; #10 reset = 1'b0; #20 $finish;. Example 2- 2 shows an illegal module nesting where the module T_FF is defined inside the module definition of the ripple carry counter. Example 2- 2 Illegal